Camera



13, 1964 c. c. MACOMBER ETAL 3,

CAMERA Filed Oct. 12, 1959 5 Sheets -Sheet l Feb. 18, 19 4 c. c. MACOMBER ETAL 3,121,379

CAMERA Filed Oct. 12, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1964 c. c. MACOMBER ETAL 3,121,379

CAMERA 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 12, 1959 Clark flrfl'zur C. Mueller a I United States Patent 3,121,379 CAMERA *Ciark C. Macomher, Evanstcn, and Arthur C. Mueller, Maine Township, Cook County, Ill., assignors to Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, ill., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Oct. 12 1959, Ser. No. 845,899 3 Claims. (Cl. 95-64) This invention relates to a camera, and more particular- 1y to a flash camera having a focus controlled diaphragm.

An object of the invention is to provide a variable focus camera having a flash mechanism together with a diaphragm which is set to match the focus control in taking flash pictures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic exposure control normally biased toward its extreme open position together with an override mechanism which may be selectively interlocked with the focusing mechanism when a flash picture is to be taken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a focusing camera which automatically adjusts the diaphragm for a flash picture when the focusing is effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a camera in which a diaphragm normally is biased toward its extreme open condition and may be controlled by a light sensitive device or, selectively, for a flash picture, by a manually operable focusing mechanism.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of a camera forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevation view of a camera forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FiG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of HG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

PEG. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the camera of FIG. 1 with a flash setting control-led diaphragm adjusting mechanism in one position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with the diaphragm adjusting mechanism in another position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, front elevation view of the camera of FIG. 1 illustrating primarily the focus indicating scale and flash guide number manual control device of the exposure control device;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 1tl1tl of FIG. 9'; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 with a cover open.

The invention provides a variable focus camera having focus indicator together with a flash guide number indicator which is adjustable manually relative to the focus indicator and which sets the diaphragm of the camera for proper exposure for a flash picture. Preferably the flash guide number indicator may be selectively locked to the focus indicator to be moved by focusing to adjust the diaphragm and be completely disconnected from the focus indicator to permit automatic setting of the diaphragm by a photo-electric device. In one embodiment of the invention, the focus indicator has a rack which meshes with a pinion of a focusing ring and the flash guide number indicator has a detent for detachably locking the flash guide number indicator to the focus indicator in a selected position relative thereto. The flash guide 3,121,379 Patented Feb. 18, 1964 number indicator preferably has a slotted member which pivots a camming lever in a direction closing the diaphraginagainst a biasing spring, and the flash guide number indicator may be moved to an inoperative position completely out of engagement with the focus indicator and also out of engagement with the diaphragm except when the latter is wide open.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein a camera having a housing 21 provided with a front wall 2101. A known flash unit 22 is adapted to be mounted on the housing and electrically connected to a shutter controlled switch (not shown) of a known type and having connectors 18 and a mounting stud 19. The unit 22 is of the flash bulb type. A variable focus obective or lens 23 is mounted by a focusing lens mount 24 which is mounted rotatably and axially slidably in a tubular guide 215 (PEG. 2) of the front wall 21a of the housing. The lens mount 24 has two oppositely disposed peripheral cam slots 242 into which project two aligned pins 25 fixed to the guide 2117. Hence, when the mount 24 is turned in the guide 21!), the mount is moved farther into or out of the housing 21 to effect a change in focus relative to the film plane (not shown) which is in a fixed position in the rear of the camera. The objective 23 includes components 26, 27 and 28. The lens mount 24 preferably has a portion 24b provided with indicia of which the uppermost is visible from viewfinder 2-9 (FIG. 1) to indicate the setting or focus of the mount 24.

The lens mount 24 also has a gear or pinion portion 240 (FIGS. 2 to 5) which meshes with a rack 31. The rack is secured by two screws 32 to a focus indicator 33 which has a somewhat elongated slide portion 33a slidable along elongated slot lid. The rack also stresses an elongated leaf spring cover or mask 34 against the wall 21a. The cover 34 is sufliciently longer than the slot 21d to cover the slot entirely even at both extremes of the movement of the rack 31 by the pinion 240. The indicator 33 has on the front thereof an indicating line 33b which co-operates with a footage scale 36a on a panel 36 fixed to the front wall 21 to indicate the focus of the lens. An enlarged head portion 33c of the indicator is adapted to engage end walls 21f and 21g of a counterbore or recess 21h in the front wall to limit the extremes of focus.

An exposure control device 41 (FIGS. 2 and 4) includes a pair of diaphragm discs 42 and 43 having aperture slots 42a and 43a which intersect on the optical axis behind the objective 24. The exposure control device 41 is positioned ahead of a known shutter (not shown) and is generaily similar to those disclosed and claimed in Bagby et al. Patents 2,841,064 and 2,858,754 and co-pending application Serial No. 744,998, filed June 27, 1958, by Arthur C. Mueller and assigned to the common assignee. The exposure control device includes a pair of mounting plates 44 and 45 which are secured in fixed positions in the camera housing 21 and which mount the diaphragm plates 42 and 43 rotatably in bearings 46 and 47. The plate 44 also mounts a galvanometer magnet or stator 48 in which a galvanometer coil 49 is rotatably mounted by a bearing strap 5% and has a shaft 41% carrying a gear 51 keyed thereto which meshes with gears 42!) and 43b formed on the diaphragm blades 42 and 43 to drive the blades by the galvanometer. The gear 51 has a pin 51a fixed thereto. The exposure control device normally is driven automatically by a photo-electric cell (not shown) mounted on and facing forwardly of the camera as shown and described in the above mentioned co-pending application Serial No. 744,998. The coil 49 is biased by a known spring (not shown) in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, to tend to rotate the blades 42 and 43 to extreme open positions providing the largest aperture.

When the camera is used in a condition where the natural scene lighting is proper for the exposure, the photocell responds to the illumination to drive the galvanometer coil to a position providing the proper diaphragm opening for the. scene lighting. However, where a flash picture is to be taken, the diaphragm usually must be stopped down further than the normal scene lighting would effect automatically through the photocell. For flash pictures, a manual override of the exposure control device 41 is provided. This override includes a lever 61 pivoted on post 62 secured to the front plate 21a and having a cam drive plate 61a adapted to engage the pin 51a to drive the coil 51 in the direction stopping down the diaphragm opening when the'lever 61 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, against the bias of the galvanometer spring. The lever 61 also has a follower arm 61!) provided with a pin 61c fixed thereto. The pin 61c fits into a cam slot 63a in a driver plate 63 fixed by screws 64 to a slide 65- slidable along a guide slot Zlk which parallels the slot 21d. The plate 63 holds a leaf spring cover or mask 66 against the plate 21a to prevent entrance of light into the interior of the camera through the slot 21k in all positions of the slide 65. The slide 65 has a somewhat elongated slide portion 65a fitting closely and slidably in the slot Zlk, and also has an enlarged head 6515.

A detent plate 67 is provided to selectively hold the manual override mechanism in an inoperative position as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 and in an operative position interlocking the manual override mechanism to the focusing mechanism for drive thereby as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The detent plate is mounted pivotally on the head 65b of the slide 65 by pins 63 (FIGS. 8 and projecting through mounting ears 67a of the detent plate, and is biased relative to the slide 65 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, by a torsion spring 69 mounted in a recess 65c. The detent plate also has forwardly projecting ears or tabs 67b to facilitate manually sliding the slide 65 along the guide slot 21k. The plate 67 has teeth 67c adapted to fit into complementary notches 33'd'(FlGS. 2 and 9) in the slide 33 to lock the slides 33 and 65 together. Then, as the lens mount 24 is turned to focus the objective on the object as indicated by mark 33b (FIG. 9) and the scale 36a, the slide 65 is moved with the slide 33 and, through the pin and slot connection between the driver plate 63 and lever 6ll and the cam drive plate 61a and the pin 51a of the galvanometer, rotates the diaphragm plates 42 and 43 to reduce the aperture to the desired setting for the flash exposure to be made. The detent plate 67 may be selectively connected to the slide 33 with the mark 3% aligned with the desired one of the flash guide number marks 6%, thus providing for different flash bulbs and different film speeds. For each of these selective connections between the slides 33 and 65, the end wall 21 of the recess 21h acts to stop either the left hand end of the slide 33 or the left hand ear 67a to define one end of the permitted focusing range for the selected connection, and the shoulder Zlg acts to stop either the right hand end of the slide 33 or the right hand end of the plate 67 to define the other limit of focusing for the selected connection.

When thecamera is not to be used for flash operation, the plate 67 is manually pivoted out of engagement with the slide 33. The slide 65 then is slid to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, to the position thereof shown in FIG. 9 where color coded arrows Zllm and 67 f are aligned, and then the plate 67 is released to permit a wide, end detent 67g (FIG. 8) to enter a wide notch 2111 in the wall 21. The detent 67g enters the notch 21in to lock the manual override in inoperative position in which the cam plate 61a (FIG. 1) is at the extreme end of the range of travel of the pin 51a of the galvanometer coil 521.. In this position, the notched wall 21 holds the detent teeth 67c out of the path of the slide 33 as illustrated in FIG. 10 so that independent focusing may be performed. The detent tooth 67g and notch 2111 are considerably wider than the enter the notches 33d and the tooth 67g will not. This limits connection between the slides 33 and 67 to those desired for the flash guide number scale marks 67s on the plate 6'7.

If desired, the lower portion of the plate 67 may have a vertical line or arrow thereon and an f/number scale be engraved on the portion of the panel 36 just below the path of the plate 67 and the f/number will be indicated during manual operation of the exposure control device. This would also permit manual setting of the diaphragm but after the focusing has been made in each instance.

A cover 71 (FIGS. 10 and .11) may be pivotally mounted on front wall Zia by an over-center spring connection 72, and serves to cover the slides 33 and 67 when desired. The cover 71 has two over-center positions as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, one being open and the other closed.

The above exposure control device may be operated automatically with the focusing effected completely. independently of the diaphragm setting, or, alternately, the manual over-ride may be selectively locked to the focusing mechanism for a given flash guide number and the focusing mechanism used to set the diaphragm as an incident to providing the desired focus. Also, for any given interlock between the manual override and the focusing mechanism, the limits of the focusing range are automatically provided.

While the invention is thus described, it is not wished to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.-

What is claimed is:

1. In a camera, a camera housing having a front wall provided with a lens opening and also having a first i rotatable with the lens mount, a focus indicator member projecting through the first guide slot and slidable along the first guide slot, a rack fixed to the indicator member and meshing with the pinion, a slide positioned in the second guide slot andslidable'therealong, means on the side adapted to engage said indicator member indicia on the indicator member and the slide for indicating the relative positions thereof, a diaphragmv in the housing, and coupling means between the slide and the diaphragm for adjusting the diaphragm.

2. In a camera including a shutter and a flash unit operable in synchronism with the shutter, the combination therewith of a camera housing having a front wall provided with a lens opening and also having a first guide slot adjacent to the lens opening and a second guideslot parallel to the first guide slot and located at the side of thefirst guide slot more remote from the lens opening, an objective, a focusing lens mount mounted rotatably in the lens opening for focusing the objective, a pinion rotatable with the-lens mount, a focus indicator member projecting through the first guide slot and slidable along the first guide slot, a rack fixed to-the indicator member and meshing with the pinion, a slide positioned in the second guide slot and slidable therealong, combined indicator and detent means movably mounted on the slide and biased toward a position interlocking with the indicator member means on the-front wall at the end of the second guide slot for holding the detent means out. of engagement with the indicator member, a diaphragm in the housing and biased toward the extreme open position, and coupling means between the slide and the diaphragm for driving the diaphragm.

3. In a camera including a shutter and a flash unit operable in synchronism with the shutter, the combination therewith of a camera housing having a front wall provided with a lens opening and also having a first guide slot adjacent to the lens opening and a second guide slot parallel to the first guide slot and located at the side of the first guide slot more remote from the lens opening, an objective, a focusing lens mount mounted rotatably in the lens opening for focusing the objective, a pinion rotatable 'with the lens mount, a focus indicator member projecting through the first guide slot and slidable along the first guide slot, a rack fixed to the indicator member and meshing with the pinion, a slide positioned in the second guide slot and slidable therealong, a combined indicator and detent plate pivotally mounted on the slide and biased toward a position engaging the indicator member, a flash guide number scale on the plate, means on the indioator member and the plate for interlocking the indicator member and the plate selectively at different flash guide number positions when the plate is biased into engagement with the indicator member, the ends of the first guide slot serving to limit the movement of the indicator member and thereby the movement of the focusing lens mount, means on the front wall at the end of the second guide slot for holding the plate out of engagement with the indicator member, a diaphragm in the housing and biased toward the extreme open position, and coupling means between the slide and the diaphragm for limiting movement of the diaphragm in a diaphragm opening direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,737 Prinsen June 27, 1939 2,369,199 Aiken Feb. 13, 1945 2,549,230 Parody Apr. 17, 1951 2,841,064 Bagby et a1. July 1, 1958 2,965,011 Rentschler -Dec. 20, 1960 3,018,710 Rentschler Jan. 30, 19 6 2 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,083,260 France June 23, 1954 

1. IN A CAMERA, A CAMERA HOUSING HAVING A FRONT WALL PROVIDED WITH A LENS OPENING AND ALSO HAVING A FIRST GUIDE SLOT ADJACENT TO THE LENS OPENING AND A SECOND GUIDE SLOT PARALLEL TO THE FIRST GUIDE SLOT AND LOCATED AT THE SIDE OF THE FIRST GUIDE SLOT MORE REMOTE FROM THE LENS OPENING, AN OBJECTIVE, A FOCUSING LENS MOUNT MOUNTED ROTATABLY IN THE LENS OPENING FOR FOCUSING THE OBJECTIVE, A PINION ROTATABLE WITH THE LENS MOUNT, A FOCUS INDICATOR MEMBER PROJECTING THROUGH THE FIRST GUIDE SLOT AND SLIDABLE ALONG THE FIRST GUIDE SLOT, A RACK FIXED TO THE INDICATOR MEMBER AND MESHING WITH THE PINION, A SLIDE POSITIONED IN THE SECOND GUIDE SLOT AND SLIDABLE THEREALONG, MEANS ON THE 